Is it time to walk away? Hall of Famer urges Aaron Rodgers to consider retirement over another comeback

As the dust settles from the 2025 NFL Draft and teams begin gearing up for mini-camps, the future of Aaron Rodgers remains one of the hottest topics in football. At 41, the four-time MVP has been at the center of speculation—will he return to the gridiron or finally hang up his cleats? While fans and analysts have been divided, one unexpected voice has joined the conversation with a decisive opinion: Hall of Famer DeMarcus Ware.Appearing on Up & Adams with Kay Adams, Ware didn’t mince words when asked what Aaron Rodgers should do next.Rather than imagining a blockbuster move or a triumphant return, Ware offered something far more sobering and sincere: a call to retire.“That’s hard. I don’t know. I mean, right now, where I think Aaron Rodgers should go — I think he should hang the cleats up,” Ware said, pausing with clear deliberation.Coming from anyone else, the comment might feel like media noise. But Ware, a man who walked away from the game at 34 despite still having gas in the tank, speaks from experience—and with gravity. After logging 138.5 sacks across 12 seasons and becoming one of the most feared pass rushers in NFL history, Ware knew when to stop. He didn’t wait for his body to force his hand. Instead, he chose long-term health over short-term accolades.“I think that with me being the first guy out of our class to make the Hall of Fame, I know he’ll probably be No. 2 out of our class and I think he needs to put that jacket on and say he’s the best of the best, there’s nothing he needs to accomplish, and go from there,” Ware explained.It’s not just about trophies or legacy. Ware pointed to something deeper—something only athletes with battle-worn bodies can truly understand.“I think he has a lot to give. I had a lot to give my last year, too. I had an opportunity to say, ‘You know what? I’m done,’ and because my body was hurting so bad,” Ware shared. “It’s great to come back and say, ‘I still can do it,’ but I’m thinking about the permanent damage that can be caused when you go back out there and you hurt yourself again at that age and you try to recover.”Rodgers has battled through injuries, setbacks, and comebacks. While fans may be thrilled by the idea of watching him in a Steelers uniform—especially after Pittsburgh traded wide receiver George Pickens to Dallas—it might not be worth the risk. With fewer offensive weapons and an aging body, the challenge only becomes greater.“Yes, I feel like I can go out and get 15.0 more sacks. I could,” Ware added. “But what is that worth? Like, what is it worth to your family? What is it worth to just where you are in your career?”It’s a sobering perspective, and it adds depth to a debate that often focuses too heavily on what fans want to see rather than what’s best for the player. Ware even drew parallels to Tom Brady, saying, “He hung it up because he wanted to, not because they pushed him out.”Rodgers, known for doing things on his own terms, is likely weighing these same questions. Walking away isn’t easy for someone who’s still capable of making an impact. But walking away with your health, legacy, and dignity intact? That’s a power move in itself.Kay Adams pushed back slightly, suggesting that Rodgers still has something to offer on the field. But even she admitted that media work doesn’t quite seem like his next chapter—he’s unpredictable, cerebral, and rarely follows the expected route.Still, Ware’s message is loud and clear: sometimes the smartest move is knowing when to stop. Whether Rodgers suits up for one last ride or chooses to enter the Hall of Fame race early, the conversation around his legacy is already underway.He’s earned the right to leave on his own terms. The question now is—will he?Also Read: NFL sparks political firestorm by having President Trump announce 2027 Draft from the White House